Everyone quieted down, listening to the PA system while we ate dinner. Our principal is making the announcement she has to make every year for the annual party. It's a super fancy, super annoying, super pathetic party. It consists of all of us, the student population, and also the ex-graduates, meaning the ones who graduated last year. Or, chose to anyway.

On top of that, all our parents are invited. It's held in the gymnasium and obviously, if it's big enough to keep all of us and more in during a blackout, it holds up pretty well. Moreover, the cafeteria is organized for the parents where instead of punch, they serve actual alcohol.

"The party is this Friday. For that reason, you all are given Friday off so you can get ready and buy anything required. Thank you." The PA system beeped and then the chatter in the room resumed.

"What is this party for?" Clara asked, eating another spoonful of my ice cream. She already had hers. We're all on dessert now anyway.

"Nothing. Just a chance to dress up," Daisy answered her accurately.

"Does everyone have to go?"

"No, it's optional but everyone chooses to go," Wyatt replied. "Everyone in Ilea likes dressing up and going to fancy events."

"It's really that fancy?" Clara groaned.

"Like ball gowns fancy," Daisy nodded.

Clara's shoulders slumped and she ate the last of the ice cream, not even leaving me one bite.

"Do you want more or something?" I asked, glancing at the empty bowl.

She glared at me, elbowing me hard.

"What? You don't like dressing up?" I asked, stacking her tray on top of mine.

"Not really," she mumbled. "It's been a while since I last did."

"And when was that?"

"On my mom's birthday."

Wyatt, Daisy, and I exchanged a glance.

"She loved throwing fancy parties for herself, she did it every year," she sighed, letting her hair down. "I haven't been to a fancy party since. Are you going?" She turned to look at me.

"Only if you are," I replied.

"God, do this in your rooms, please," Daisy whined, putting her head down on Wyatt's shoulder.

I noticed his face turning pink. "Yeah," I nodded in agreement. "She's right. Let's go." I stood up, taking Clara's hand.

"Why all of a sudden?" she mumbled but got up with me nonetheless. I shot Wyatt a pointed look and then we left. "Did we really have to leave just so they could flirt with each other?"

I nodded, both of us reaching the staircase.

"Oh!" she groaned. "Thousands of stairs."

"Why are you whiny and sulky? You've been like this since we came down for dinner," I stated, both of us taking advantage of the empty stairway and corridor. I grabbed her hands, wrapping her arms around my waist before I left them, and put my arms around her.

"I don't know what's wrong with me," she mumbled into my chest. "I just feel so exhausted and sad. I think I should sleep."

"Do you want to teleport?" I whispered in her ear.

She looked up at me a little excited. She nodded eagerly. I chuckled, keeping contact with her and then teleporting us. "Whoa." She swayed on her feet a little.

"You okay?" I laughed, keeping my hold on her hand.

"Yeah," she grinned before rubbing her eyes. I opened her door for her, leaving the keys on her nightstand while following her inside. "Are you going to sleep too?" she asked.

"I'm going to try. You gonna be okay?"

She nodded.

"Call me if you need anything."

"Okay," she chuckled softly, going on her toes and kissing me. I grabbed her waist, pulling her body closer to mine. She pecked my lips one time before going to her closet and grabbing her clothes, disappearing into the bathroom after waving me bye.

I went into my own room and got ready for bed. I had just collapsed on my bed when my phone started ringing. "Yes?" I asked, smiling to myself.

"I miss you," she said sleepily.

"You just kissed me goodnight, Clara," I laughed, adjusting the pillow under my head.

"I want to sleep but I want to be with my boyfriend," she whined.

"Well then, I guess it's too bad that you're in my room, I'm in mine, and you're in dire need of some sleep."

"But I'm not in my room."

I shot up. "Where are you?"

"Outside yours."

I sighed in relief and went to the door, opening it.

"Hi," she grinned, still not hanging up.

I hung up, putting my phone on my nightstand before pulling her inside. "Don't scare me like that."

"Okay, next time I'll just bang on your door like a serial killer," she nodded innocently.

I smiled, sitting on my side of the bed while she climbed on, crawling over to her side. "You don't want to sleep alone tonight?" I asked, both of us lying on our sides, facing each other.

"I can, but I don't want to. I just don't feel good," she said, her voice soft. She sounded fragile. She closed her eyes, ready to fall asleep. "Is it okay that I'm here?" she asked, opening her eyes again.

"Of course." I shifted closer to her, throwing my leg over hers, her free hand brushing against mine.

She closed her eyes once again, taking a deep breath. "I really like you," she whispered.

"Where is this coming from?" I asked, grabbing her free hand.

"I don't know," she said, already half asleep. "I just..."

"Hmm?" I asked, wanting to hear it before she dozed off.

"No one has ever taken care of me like you do before. So I like..." she trailed off.

"So?" I whispered.

"I..." She huffed, rolling over and facing the other way.

I scooted forward and put my arm around her waist, pulling her back against me.

She sighed in content, her hand holding onto mine that was resting on her stomach. "I like you," she finally said. "You give me butterflies," she said, her words coming out in soft murmurs.

"I do?" I asked, kissing her shoulder.

"Hmm. I feel like I'm falling for... you," she exhaled before her entire body relaxed and her breathing slowly evened out.

I smiled to myself, kissing her shoulder a few more times before closing my eyes and willing myself to sleep. I normally can't get much sleep at night, but that night I slept like a baby. I felt at ease with her beside me. I knew I was right there for her and she was right there for me. I had her, she had me. And that was enough to calm me down so I could sleep through the night. And I did.

When I woke up the next morning, she was still fast asleep beside me but she was now lying on her stomach, facing me.

I'm falling for her too.

"Stop staring at me," she mumbled.

I blinked in surprise. I had no idea she was awake. Or is it semi-awake?

She rubbed her eyes open and then sighed. "What time is it?"

"We already missed the first two periods," I answered. "How long have you been awake?"

"I'm not awake," she said, rolling over and putting her back to me. "I've been dozing in and out of sleep."

"Why? Are you feeling okay?"

"My tummy hurts," she said, wrapping her arms around her stomach.

"Maybe you should eat something," I mumbled, throwing a leg over hers and putting my arm around her waist, resting my hand on hers. "Do you want me to get something to eat?"

"No," she answered, turning back around to face me. She stared at me for a minute and then pushed me flat on my back before climbing on top of me and lying on her stomach, resting her head on my chest and her arms around my neck. "I want to sleep."

I rested my hands on her lower back, one hand instinctively slipping under her shirt and drawing circles on her back. "Okay, you go back to sleep then," I mumbled, grabbing my phone with my free hand and scrolling through.

I dropped Wyatt a text saying that I won't be doing class today because Clara isn't feeling too good and then I replied to my mom's text asking the same thing she always does.

How is school going?

Her breathing evened out and I knew she had dozed off again. My mind for some reason went back to what Nora mentioned when I got sick.

The curse.

I know the curse but I somehow don't. I understand parts of it but I also don't understand other parts of it. And there is no book or website or anything that explains the entire curse. The only person that I ask is my mom. Or my dad. I know the curse majorly affects who you're with, your soulmate. I don't know if she's my soulmate, I haven't thought about it so much.

But just in case, I should know. I should definitely know. So I texted my mom asking her to come meet me later. It's time I ask some questions.

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